Bill Text: MI HR0160 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to urge Congress and the President to support federal funding for ports, harbors, and critical marine infrastructure in the Great Lakes region including the Soo Locks reconstruction project.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 33-3)
Status: (Passed) 2019-10-15 - Adopted [HR0160 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-HR0160-Enrolled.html
house resolution no.160
Reps. Cambensy, Coleman, Garza, Haadsma, Rabhi, Cynthia Johnson, Tate, Gay-Dagnogo, Ellison, Camilleri, Pohutsky, Warren, Sabo, Brixie, Kuppa, Hoadley, Love, Hope, Peterson, Elder, Cherry, Greig, Koleszar, VanSingel, Frederick, Lasinski, Pagan, Brann, Clemente, Wittenberg, Manoogian, Chirkun, Kennedy, Kuppa, Shannon and Sowerby offered the following resolution:
A resolution to urge Congress and the President to support federal funding for ports, harbors, and critical marine infrastructure in the Great Lakes region including the Soo Locks reconstruction project.
Whereas, The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system is the longest deep-draft waterway in the world spanning from Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean. This commercial waterway provides cost-effective and reliable transportation for cargo, including iron ore, coal, steel, machinery, cement, and petroleum products that are staples in everyday life—whether that be for road improvements or the energy powering our cities; and
Whereas, The economic importance of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway system cannot be overstated. Commerce along the seaway supported over 200,000 jobs and generated over $35 billion in economic activity in 2017 alone. Maintaining the ports, harbors, and critical infrastructure of the seaway is necessary to protect American industry and jobs; and
Whereas, Maintaining and updating the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is of utmost importance, not only to the residents of Michigan but to all Americans. Nearly 80 percent of domestic iron ore—the primary material used to manufacture steel critical to the auto industry and construction—travels from mines in Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula through the Soo Locks; and
Whereas, Even a six-month unplanned closure at the Soo Locks would devastate steel, automobile, and other heavy equipment production throughout North America, decreasing U.S. gross domestic production by $1.3 trillion and costing more than 11 million jobs. The effect would ripple across national supply chains and eventually lead to a full shut down of steel production in Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Congress has appropriated an initial $32 million to begin construction at the Soo Locks; however, the $1 billion project will require continued appropriation from Congress through the completion of the project. The economic risk of a Soo Locks closure is too great to delay funding for even one year; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Congress and the President to support federal funding for ports, harbors, and critical marine infrastructure in the Great Lakes region including the Soo Locks reconstruction project; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
